TOGO - Mathilde Honyiglo. She was supposed to compete in this contest last year, but some unfortunate circumstance prevented her from making it so she was given the chance this time and she made it this time. There are some pageant pundits buzzing she could be a Top 24 possibility. It seems she and NAMIBIA are trying to evoke Miss Universe 2019 from South Africa, Zozibini Tunzi. Would she be able to prevail?
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - Cadiesha Joseph. She is not receiving much buzz but I feel she competed at a high level so I think she deserves to be regarded as a worthwhile contender.
TÜRKİYE - Selin Erberk Gürdikyan. She's a pretty lady, but her catwalk skills are raw, and hence she did not make an impact in the preliminaries.
UKRAINE - Alina Liashuk. Yes, the world's sympathies are still on this country's side, but just like last year, though we have a pretty and trim lady, she didn't quite generate buzz or impact so it's likely she'll miss the cut just like her predecessor.
UNITED KINGDOM - Emma Rose Collingride. This Top 16 finisher at Miss Universe 2021 is likely to rely on her strong communication skills to advance her cause. Though she performed strongly enough in the preliminaries, many pageant fans and pundits are feeling that there are more compelling performers that time over this lady. Still, do not count this lady out.
UNITED STATES - Rylee Spinks. There are some pageant fans and pundits who were abuzz at her appearance in the Opening Ceremony that she was considered a possible crown contender. Buzz about her diminished since then, and many pageant fans and pundits are feeling a Top 24 finish is the most she'll be able to make. Me, I'm still bullish that she can advance to the Top 12 and maybe even make Final Five, but this pageant is starting to be one of the toughest to call.
VENEZUELA - Selene Delgado. This CLBQ is performing at the level we tend to expect for a candidate from her country, that it looks like a Top 24 finish is secure. But to go beyond that, it looks like she'll have to contend with a host of other ladies who have generated stronger buzz and impact..
VIETNAM - Ngân Đặng Thanh. With a fierce Southeast Asian contingent this year, it's hard to tell if there would be room for this lady in the Top 12, as the likes of MALAYSIA, PHILIPPINES, and THAILAND seemed to be securing their spots at that level and we don't know if there would be room for INDONESIA and this lady. She actually performed at a high level so she could advance to the Top 24 by sheer merit, but I feel the Supra-Influencer challenge could help secure that slot. Now, to reserve a spot in the Top 12 she would need to win the Supra-Fan Vote, and we'll see if enough fans are willing to part with their cash to support her cause. I wouldn't object to her making it via this path if that happened.
ZAMBIA - Candy Mathews. At 33 years old, she beat BRAZIL as the oldest candidate in this batch. Like TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, she is not receiving buzz but she performed at a high level to be considered a worthwhile contender. Heavier buzz seems to be going towards BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, TOGO, SOUTH AFRICA and...
ZIMBABWE - Sakhile Dube. She made a huge splash at Miss Earth last year by making the Final Eight and sporting this distinctive Afro look. For this pageant she switched to a looser frizzy hairstyle which still gave her impact, which is reflected by being the top African in the Top Model competition and it's possible she'll be the overall winner and secure her Top 24 slot via that path. Many fans and pundits are hyping she can finish in the Final Five and be the best-performing African. But I have a feeling there is a possibility SOUTH AFRICA can edge her out and become the top African. Though her communication skills are proven since her Miss Earth days, it pales in comparison to SOUTH AFRICA's eloquence.
With all 65 candidates now accounted for, let me trot out my Leaderboard and here is how I think they all stack up:
TOP CONTENDERS: BRAZIL, CZECH REPUBLIC, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, INDIA, PERU, PHILIPPINES, SOUTH AFRICA, THAILAND, ZIMBABWE
SHOO-INS: CANADA, COLOMBIA, CURACAO, ECUADOR, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, MEXICO, PUERTO RICO, UNITED STATES, VENEZUELA, VIETNAM
LIKELIEST: BOTSWANA, GERMANY, GIBRALTAR, GUATEMALA, HAITI, JAPAN, KOREA, NAMIBIA, NICARAGUA, NIGERIA, POLAND, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, SPAIN, TOGO, UNITED KINGDOM
PERSONALITY FACTOR: CUBA, HONG KONG, THE BAHAMAS
FAN VOTE FACTOR: COTE D'IVOIRE, MOZAMBIQUE
INFLUENCER FACTOR: PARAGUAY
EXCELLENT: BOLIVIA, CAMEROON, EL SALVADOR, NETHERLANDS, PANAMA, PORTUGAL, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, UKRAINE, ZAMBIA
VERY STRONG: CAMBODIA, COSTA RICA, GREECE, ICELAND, NEPAL, NETHERLANDS,
STRONG: BELGIUM, FINLAND, GHANA, KENYA,
VERY GOOD: CAYMAN ISLANDS, CROATIA, JAMAICA, MAURITIUS, TURKIYE
Now, here is my "Fearful" Forecast:
FINAL FIVE: BRAZIL, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, PERU, PHILIPPINES, SOUTH AFRICA
TOP 12: COLOMBIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, INDIA, MALAYSIA, MEXICO, THAILAND, ZIMBABWE,
TOP 24: CANADA, CURACAO, ECUADOR, GERMANY, INDONESIA, PUERTO RICO, ROMANIA, SPAIN, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES, VENEZUELA, VIETNAM
BUBBLING UNDER: BOTSWANA, GIBRALTAR, GUATEMALA, HAITI, JAPAN, KOREA, NAMIBIA, NICARAGUA, NIGERIA, POLAND, SLOVAKIA, TOGO
STRIKING DISTANCE: BOLIVIA, CAMEROON, CUBA, COTE D'IVOIRE, EL SALVADOR, HONG KONG, MOZAMBIQUE, NETHERLANDS, PANAMA, PARAGUAY, PORTUGAL, THE BAHAMAS, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, UKRAINE, ZAMBIA
This is one of the murkiest Miss Supranational competitions I have witnessed, with no runaway front-runners in sight, and so far it looks like there are nine ladies who are ahead of the pack, with PERU (Valeria Florez) seemingly in the lead and close behind her are BRAZIL (Sancler Frantz), CZECH REPUBLIC (Marie Jedličkova), DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (Crystal Matos), INDIA (Pragnya Ayyagari), PHILIPPINES (Pauline Amelinckx), SOUTH AFRICA (Ayanda Thabethe), THAILAND (Prataporn Wang), and ZIMBABWE (Sakhile Dube) nipping very closely at her heels and possible upsets still conceivable amongst the ladies I listed as shoo-ins. This looks like it will be an exciting contest ahead. Best of luck to all the ladies.
JUST ME!
JOSEPH
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